The Wayro route from Nombre de Dios to Metztitlán is 540 miles (869 km), about 10 h 54 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 540 mi (869 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 54 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45 → MEX-45D → MEX-47D → MEX-85 |
| Mexican states on the route | Durango (Level 3), Zacatecas (Level 4), Aguascalientes (Level 2), Jalisco (Level 3), Guanajuato (Level 3), Querétaro (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Driving this route in a car with U.S. plates
| Temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) | Required: this route is outside the zones where U.S.-registered cars can skip the temporary import permit (Baja California, Baja California Sur and part of Sonora) |
|---|---|
| Mexican auto insurance | Required for all vehicles: buy a Mexican policy before you drive |
Sources: U.S. State Department, Mexico travel information (updated August 11, 2026); permits are issued by Banjercito.
What the drive from Nombre de Dios to Metztitlán is like
MEX-45 (218 mi) and MEX-45D (204 mi) carry about 78% of the 540 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-47D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-45, MEX-85 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 8 states: Durango, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Nombre de Dios to Metztitlán, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Durango |
| MEX-45 | 2–104 | 102 | Durango, Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 104–116 | 12 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 116–124 | 8 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 124–174 | 50 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 174–203 | 29 | Zacatecas, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 203–206 | 3 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 206–236 | 30 | Aguascalientes, Jalisco |
| MEX-45D | 236–378 | 142 | Jalisco, Guanajuato |
| MEX-47D | 378–429 | 51 | Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| connecting roads | 429–432 | 3 | Querétaro |
| MEX-45 | 432–481 | 49 | Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 481–486 | 5 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 486–540 | 54 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 26 of this route: Durango → Zacatecas (state line)
- Mile 179 of this route: Zacatecas → Aguascalientes (state line)
- Mile 233 of this route: Aguascalientes → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 281 of this route: Jalisco → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 391 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 437 of this route: Querétaro → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 441 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Nombre de Dios and Metztitlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Aguascalientes Cathedral (mile 217), Museum of Contemporary Art (mile 217), Museo de Arqueología e Historia de Huichapan (mile 453), Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (mile 486), Church of San Miguel Arcángel (mile 487)
- Nature and outdoors: Sierra de Órganos National Park (mile 34), El Cimatario National Park (mile 395), Tolantongo Canyon (mile 513)
- Museums and history: Aguascalientes Cathedral (mile 217), Museum of Contemporary Art (mile 217), Museo de Arqueología e Historia de Huichapan (mile 453), Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (mile 486)
Sierra de Órganos National Park
Volcanic activity and erosion shaped the 20- to 60-meter rock spires of Sierra de Órganos, a national park near Sombrerete created in 2000. Western movies have been filmed here, and visitors hike marked trails, mountain bike and camp.
Historic centre of Zacatecas
Founded in 1546 after a rich silver strike, Zacatecas climbs the steep sides of a narrow valley; its UNESCO-listed center holds an 18th-century Baroque cathedral, colonial convents, the Calderón Theater and the old González Market.
Aguascalientes Cathedral
The cathedral of Aguascalientes stands on the Plaza de la Patria in the city's historic center.
Museum of Contemporary Art
Aguascalientes' Museum of Contemporary Art shows works by contemporary Mexican artists in its Jesús F. Contreras gallery.
El Cimatario National Park
El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.
Museo de Arqueología e Historia de Huichapan
Huichapan's archaeology and history museum displays pre-Hispanic vessels, arrowheads, a funerary offering, shell and jade necklaces, replicas of rock paintings and pieces linked to the Mezquital Valley, plus workshops, film series and performances.
Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital
In Ixmiquilpan, Hidalgo, the Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital works as both a museum and a cultural center.
Church of San Miguel Arcángel
Ixmiquilpan's 16th-century Church of San Miguel Arcángel is known for its murals with religious and secular scenes, and for a design that blends European and Indigenous traditions.
Tolantongo Canyon
Barranca de Tolantongo is a deep canyon in Hidalgo state whose walls rise as high as 500 meters.
When you get to Metztitlán
Los Reyes Magos monastery, Metztitlán
Augustinian friars built the fortress-like Santos Reyes convent in Metztitlán in the 16th century, enclosing its atrium with a wall, open chapels and an atrial cross; it stands inside the Barranca de Metztitlán Biosphere Reserve with wide canyon views.
More drives to Metztitlán
- Pachuca to Metztitlán
- Actopan to Metztitlán
- Tulancingo to Metztitlán
- Zimapán to Metztitlán
- Otumba to Metztitlán
- Calpulalpan to Metztitlán
From Nombre de Dios to other places in Mexico
- Nombre de Dios to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Nombre de Dios to Temacapulín
- Nombre de Dios to San Luis Soyatlán
- Nombre de Dios to Tócuaro
- Nombre de Dios to Cuanajo
- Nombre de Dios to Pacanda
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Nombre de Dios to Metztitlán?
About 10 h 54 min of driving without stops, over 540 miles.
How far is Metztitlán from Nombre de Dios by car?
About 540 miles (869 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
Do I need a permit to drive my U.S. car from Nombre de Dios to Metztitlán?
Yes. A temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) is required for a U.S.-registered car on this route, which is outside the zones where it can be skipped. Mexican auto insurance is required for every vehicle.
Is it safe to drive from Nombre de Dios to Metztitlán?
The U.S. State Department rates Durango Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Nombre de Dios to Metztitlán use?
In order: MEX-45, MEX-45D, MEX-47D and MEX-85. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Nombre de Dios and Metztitlán?
Closest to the road: Museum of Contemporary Art (art museum, mile 217, 0.1 mi from the route); Aguascalientes Cathedral (church building, mile 217, 0.2 mi from the route); Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (museum, mile 486, 0.1 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway mile markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route (roughly 2 to 7 miles depending on the type, farther for World Heritage sites): at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, with no more than five of one type, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place and city descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on September 29, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.